“Adam Hamdy is the author of the forthcoming Pendulum trilogy, which will be published by Headline in November 2016. New York Times bestselling author, James Patterson, said: “I read Pendulum in one gloriously suspenseful weekend. Definitely one of the best thrillers of the year.”
Tell me about your latest book and why we should read it?
My latest book is Pendulum, which James Patterson described as ‘one of the best thrillers of the year’. It tells the story of John Wallace, a photojournalist who wakes to find himself being hanged by a masked killer. He manages to escape and embarks on a frantic quest to discover why he’s been marked for death. Pendulum is for anyone who likes action-packed thrills, spills and mystery. Freefall, the sequel to Pendulum, is out in November.
If someone was to write your life story what would the title be?
Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd is one of my all-time favourite albums and while the first track is ostensibly a memorial to Syd Barrett, it can also be interpreted as a song about all the strange and risky places one has to go to as a creative.
What’s the strangest fan question or request you’ve received?
Readers tend to be remarkably reasonable so I’ve only ever had sensible questions or requests from fans. The strangest general request I’ve ever had was when I was producing a feature film and one of the crew members asked me to drive him to a pharmacy to get his prescription for anti-depressants after he’d been involved in an altercation with the caterer and had arrived on set without any shoes in a car that had just had its rear windscreen smashed in.
If you could co-write with anyone in the world (alive or dead) who would it be?
There are so many great writers whose work I admire, but if I had to choose one, it would be the grandmaster of thrills, James Patterson.
Tell me something nobody else knows about you (yet!).
I once shot a man in the face.
I was 8 years old. I was living in Cairo at the time and had been dropped off for a playdate with my Iraqi friend, Raouf. Only this playdate was unlike any other because Raouf knew where his dad’s guns were kept. We were messing around on his balcony, using his father’s air pistol to shoot various inanimate objects on the building opposite. I missed a target and hit a shopkeeper in the face, just below his eye. Raouf sent his maid to bribe the man to keep quiet and not report the incident to the police. I spent the next few days crying, convinced the cops would turn up at any moment and that I was doomed to rot in prison. I can’t begin to imagine what my parents thought of this guilt-ridden, weeping 8-year-old moping about the place. They had no idea what had happened, but I never went back for another playdate.
Finally please recommend 3 books that you have recently read and tell me why you’ve chosen these.
Fever by Deon Myer
One of the best books of the year, Fever is part post-Apocalyptic drama, part insightful thriller, and part coming-of-age epic. It’s beautifully written and is one of those books that slowly draws you in and then doesn’t let go until the very end.
The Rising by Heather Graham & Jon Land
I was fortunate enough to meet Heather and Jon at ThrillerFest last month, and they made me feel very welcome at my first American book festival. The Rising is a fantastic, fast-paced, action-packed thriller that tells the story of Alex Chin and Samantha Dixon when they discover an incredible secret about Alex’s past.
The Constant Soldier by William Ryan
Nominated for a number of awards, this cracking read by William Ryan follows Paul Brandt, a German soldier who is wounded in the last year of the Second World War and returns to his home village, which has been transformed by the presence of an SS rest hut. It’s a haunting, compelling read that oozes authenticity. Highly recommended.
Who is Adam Hamdy? Adam Hamdy is the author of the forthcoming Pendulum trilogy, which will be published by Headline in November 2016. New York Times bestselling author, James Patterson, said: “I read Pendulum in one gloriously suspenseful weekend. Definitely one of the best thrillers of the year.”
As a screenwriter, Adam has worked with studios and production companies on both sides of the Atlantic, and is currently developing original TV dramas with networks in the UK and US.
In addition to his film and television work, Adam is building a reputation as an author. After garnering critical acclaim, Adam’s self-published second novel, Out of Reach, was republished by Endeavour Press in 2015.
Prior to embarking on his writing career, Adam was a strategy consultant and advised global businesses in the medical systems, robotics, technology and financial services sectors.
Adam has a degree in Law from Oxford University and a degree in Philosophy from the University of London. Adam is a seasoned skier, rock climber, CPSA marksman, and is a member of the International Thriller Writers Organisation, the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers Association, and the Writers Guild of Great Britain.
